Compact fluorescent light bulbs don't reduce pollution

Fans of compact fluorescent light bulbs try to shrug off the fact that these dangerous bulbs contain mercury, a substance that’s very hazardous to our health and our environment.  They say that power plants generate mercury, so producing less power means they produce less mercury.

But just about all the compact fluorescent light bulbs used in the United States are produced in China.  So, at best, people who use compact fluorescent light bulbs are trading pollution in the United States for pollution in China.

And let’s not forget that the mercury thrown away in compact fluorescent light bulbs each year is enough to pollute nearly every lake, pond, river and stream in North America.

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